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Why embedding Health ICT in daily practice is not that easy.
Swinkels, I. Why embedding Health ICT in daily practice is not that easy. European Journal of Public Health: 2017, 27(s3) Abstracts: 10th European Public Health Conference Sustaining resilient and healthy communities Stockholm, Sweden 1–4 November 2017
Background
The prospects of information and communication technologies (ICT) seem endless. In daily life ICT is fully embedded, but in healthcare its uptake and use does not reach its potential yet despite high expectations. Policymakers promote Health ICT widely, e.g. by policy letters, investing money, and legal regulations. Nevertheless use is still low. In this presentation we will show the use of different Health ICT solutions in the Netherlands and the difficulties in using it.
Methods
A cross sectional survey of a sample of Dutch General Practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel was conducted in March/April 2016. A structured questionnaire was completed by 316 GPs (response 26%), by 274 medical specialists (15%) and by 591 consumers (response 39%).
Results
The supply of Health ICT is substantial, but use is still low. For example, 60% of GPs offers the option of email-consultation, 33% of the patients say that their GP is offering it, 4% use it. Similar patterns are found for other solutions. Facilitating and hampering factors are related to several themes: the ICT solution itself, end-users, organizational factors, implementation process, and external factors. We show some examples: user-friendliness can be improved; knowledge about the needs of end-users is missing; commitment from management is needed. In implementation processes, healthcare professionals should be involved, ambassadors and well-grounded choices are needed. External factors like financial models and scientific knowledge is needed.
Conclusions
Although expectations of Health ICT are high, use and uptake by consumers and doctors is low. A multi-faceted strategy is needed for embedding it in daily practice. Recommendations focus on improving tools and its integration with other ICT, involvement of end-users, support and training for healthcare professionals, more attention for the implementation and better financial models. (aut. ref.)
The prospects of information and communication technologies (ICT) seem endless. In daily life ICT is fully embedded, but in healthcare its uptake and use does not reach its potential yet despite high expectations. Policymakers promote Health ICT widely, e.g. by policy letters, investing money, and legal regulations. Nevertheless use is still low. In this presentation we will show the use of different Health ICT solutions in the Netherlands and the difficulties in using it.
Methods
A cross sectional survey of a sample of Dutch General Practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel was conducted in March/April 2016. A structured questionnaire was completed by 316 GPs (response 26%), by 274 medical specialists (15%) and by 591 consumers (response 39%).
Results
The supply of Health ICT is substantial, but use is still low. For example, 60% of GPs offers the option of email-consultation, 33% of the patients say that their GP is offering it, 4% use it. Similar patterns are found for other solutions. Facilitating and hampering factors are related to several themes: the ICT solution itself, end-users, organizational factors, implementation process, and external factors. We show some examples: user-friendliness can be improved; knowledge about the needs of end-users is missing; commitment from management is needed. In implementation processes, healthcare professionals should be involved, ambassadors and well-grounded choices are needed. External factors like financial models and scientific knowledge is needed.
Conclusions
Although expectations of Health ICT are high, use and uptake by consumers and doctors is low. A multi-faceted strategy is needed for embedding it in daily practice. Recommendations focus on improving tools and its integration with other ICT, involvement of end-users, support and training for healthcare professionals, more attention for the implementation and better financial models. (aut. ref.)
Background
The prospects of information and communication technologies (ICT) seem endless. In daily life ICT is fully embedded, but in healthcare its uptake and use does not reach its potential yet despite high expectations. Policymakers promote Health ICT widely, e.g. by policy letters, investing money, and legal regulations. Nevertheless use is still low. In this presentation we will show the use of different Health ICT solutions in the Netherlands and the difficulties in using it.
Methods
A cross sectional survey of a sample of Dutch General Practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel was conducted in March/April 2016. A structured questionnaire was completed by 316 GPs (response 26%), by 274 medical specialists (15%) and by 591 consumers (response 39%).
Results
The supply of Health ICT is substantial, but use is still low. For example, 60% of GPs offers the option of email-consultation, 33% of the patients say that their GP is offering it, 4% use it. Similar patterns are found for other solutions. Facilitating and hampering factors are related to several themes: the ICT solution itself, end-users, organizational factors, implementation process, and external factors. We show some examples: user-friendliness can be improved; knowledge about the needs of end-users is missing; commitment from management is needed. In implementation processes, healthcare professionals should be involved, ambassadors and well-grounded choices are needed. External factors like financial models and scientific knowledge is needed.
Conclusions
Although expectations of Health ICT are high, use and uptake by consumers and doctors is low. A multi-faceted strategy is needed for embedding it in daily practice. Recommendations focus on improving tools and its integration with other ICT, involvement of end-users, support and training for healthcare professionals, more attention for the implementation and better financial models. (aut. ref.)
The prospects of information and communication technologies (ICT) seem endless. In daily life ICT is fully embedded, but in healthcare its uptake and use does not reach its potential yet despite high expectations. Policymakers promote Health ICT widely, e.g. by policy letters, investing money, and legal regulations. Nevertheless use is still low. In this presentation we will show the use of different Health ICT solutions in the Netherlands and the difficulties in using it.
Methods
A cross sectional survey of a sample of Dutch General Practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel was conducted in March/April 2016. A structured questionnaire was completed by 316 GPs (response 26%), by 274 medical specialists (15%) and by 591 consumers (response 39%).
Results
The supply of Health ICT is substantial, but use is still low. For example, 60% of GPs offers the option of email-consultation, 33% of the patients say that their GP is offering it, 4% use it. Similar patterns are found for other solutions. Facilitating and hampering factors are related to several themes: the ICT solution itself, end-users, organizational factors, implementation process, and external factors. We show some examples: user-friendliness can be improved; knowledge about the needs of end-users is missing; commitment from management is needed. In implementation processes, healthcare professionals should be involved, ambassadors and well-grounded choices are needed. External factors like financial models and scientific knowledge is needed.
Conclusions
Although expectations of Health ICT are high, use and uptake by consumers and doctors is low. A multi-faceted strategy is needed for embedding it in daily practice. Recommendations focus on improving tools and its integration with other ICT, involvement of end-users, support and training for healthcare professionals, more attention for the implementation and better financial models. (aut. ref.)