Re-thinking technology and its growing role in enabling patient empowerment

Abstract

The presence and increase of challenges to eHealth in today's society have begun to generate doubts about the capability of technology in patient empowerment, especially within the frameworks supporting empowerment. Through the review of existing frameworks and articulation of patient demands, weaknesses in the current application of technology to support empowerment are explored, and key constituents of a technology-driven framework for patient empowerment are determined. This article argues that existing usage of technology in the design, development and implementation of patient empowerment in the healthcare system, although well intentioned, is insufficiently constituted, primarily as a result of fragmentation. Systems theory concepts such as holism and iteration are considered vital in improving the role of technology in enabling patient empowerment.

Evaluating Online Consumer Medication Information Systems: Comparative Online Usability Study

“…Nowadays, many people worldwide (more than 60% in Europe, 80% in the United States, and 85% of the population in low- and middle-income countries) are making use of the internet to search for information about health, medication, or medical conditions; the most frequent activity is searching for medication information [ 4 ]. This substantiates the paradigm shift toward inclusive, patient-centered health care [ 5 ] and patient empowerment [ 6 ]. Despite the fact that medication provides known benefits, adequate medication use remains a challenge for patients and providers alike [ 7 ].…”

Health Ownership: A Concept Analysis

“…Health ownership was discussed as a necessity for individuals to take control of their health due to a change in their condition as a result of a chronic illness (Donnelley, 2019; Gell et al, 2019) or to maintain a state of independence and function by taking control of their health to prevent disease (Akeel & Mundy, 2019; Donnelley, 2018a). In all cases, this is referred to as a personal process that is patient-specific and internally driven (Akeel & Mundy, 2019; Donnelley, 2018a).…”

“…Health ownership was discussed as a necessity for individuals to take control of their health due to a change in their condition as a result of a chronic illness (Donnelley, 2019; Gell et al, 2019) or to maintain a state of independence and function by taking control of their health to prevent disease (Akeel & Mundy, 2019; Donnelley, 2018a). In all cases, this is referred to as a personal process that is patient-specific and internally driven (Akeel & Mundy, 2019; Donnelley, 2018a). Health ownership also calls for individuals to accept responsibility for maintaining their health and wellness, understanding that they have an active role in their health management, and their actions and behaviors directly contribute to health-related outcomes (Banteyerga, 2014; Carter, 2015; Castorino & Jovanovic, 2013; Donnelley, 2018b; Morren & Salgado, 2012; Nickels-Nelson, 2019; Scott, 2014).…”

“…This concept continues to be used to explain the need for this shift in responsibility and change of focus from managing illness to preventing it by promoting wellness. Health ownership has been used to describe self-management in chronic disease (Donnelley, 2018a, 2018b, 2019; Gell, Tursi, Grover, & Dittus, 2019; Nickels-Nelson, 2019), a culture of wellness in communities or groups of people (Banteyerga, 2014; Beck & Reilly, 2017; Carter, 2015; Gottlieb, 2016; Harvey et al, 2019; Payne, 2013), adherence to a prescribed treatment regimen (Carter, 2015; Castorino & Jovanovic, 2013; McMahon, Tay, Tapsell, & Williams, 2016; Morren & Salgado, 2012), a person-centered healthcare approach (Akeel & Mundy, 2019; Lee et al, 2018; Scott, 2014), and adopting healthy lifestyles to prevent illness and prolong life (Healthcare Financial Management Association [HCFM], 2017; Riegel et al, 2019).…”

The health Sector Between Innovation and Organizational Performance: Applied Research in Moroccan Hospitals

“…The Today, the healthcare world faces several simultaneous challenges that are quite different from those that healthcare facilities usually face. The technology promised to reduce economic costs and promote a more sustainable and efficient health system [8]. In this regard, access to health information now transcends all geographic boundaries.…”