The expectations and perceived usefulness to a future secure "net-health" portal for patients with chronic diseases

Abstract

The recent advancements in technology are constantly changing the way healthcare is practiced and delivered. The number of patients receiving treatment at home will increase. The Internet as a source of information and a tool for electronic communication empowers the patient and put demands on the healthcare profession to allow the patient’s active participation and control of his own situation. Putting the patient in the centre, the main focus in this study will be asking the patients what they will need in future services concerning communication between healthcare personnel and themselves, within the frames of a secure web-based solution. The idea of personal health records and the need for two-way communication between healthcare personnel and patients is not new. Worldwide there are several web-based solutions. However the uniqueness in this study will be to really put the patient as main contributor, to reveal the patient’s view on what kind of services they expect. The study will be conducted during spring 2006. The participants will mainly consist of chronic patients who will be asked about their expectations and requests concerning which services an individually adjusted web-portal for two-way communication should include.