Evidence Summary
What is an Evidence Summary?
Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisSome health information technologies improve clinical outcomes that are important to patients
Finkelstein J, Knight A, Marinopoulos S, et al. Enabling patient-centered care through health information technology. Evid Rep Technol Assess. 2012;206:1-1531.
Review question
What is the impact of health information technology on patient-centered care?
Background
Patient-centered care is responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.
Experts agree on the importance of patient-centered care. It is a challenge to find ways of delivering it.
Health information technology is the use of computer systems to help with patient care delivery.
How the review was done
This is a summary of a systematic review of 327 studies published since 1998.
184 randomized controlled trials looked at the impact of health information technologies on patient-centered care.
206 studies looked at barriers and facilitators for adopting health information technologies.
The studies had diverse populations (from 10 patients to more than 1,000), diverse settings, and a wide range of interventions.
Studies evaluated processes of care, outcomes, responsiveness to patient needs, joint decision-making and communication between patients and care providers, access to information, improved health knowledge and behavior, satisfaction, and costs.
What the researchers found
Some patient-centered information technologies have a positive effect on the outcomes for these conditions:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- cancer
- hypertension
- asthma
- mental health
- smoking cessation
Examples of health information technologies are
- computerized decision aids to assist patients in making health care choices
- health care at a distance by video conferencing (telemedicine)
- remote assessment of patients’ conditions (blood pressure, sugar levels, etc.) by telemonitoring
- computerized ordering of medications
- electronic patient records
- electronic reminders for doctors
- Internet guidance for managing specific diseases
- Internet lifestyle counseling (web portals)
- computer-assisted self-care
Conclusion
Health information technologies with patient-centered components can have a positive effect on health outcomes that matter to patients.
Related Topics
Glossary
Studies where people are assigned to one of the treatments purely by chance.
A comprehensive evaluation of the available research evidence on a particular topic.
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